Christopher Twins Not Identical In Voters' Minds

REGIONAL RACING

A week ago, Stafford Motor Speedway announced its list of the ``50 Greatest Modified Drivers of All Time.''

As is the case with any ``all-time greatest'' list, arguments as to the merits of some on the list and some left off will arise. There is no difference here.

About 23,000 votes were received through the Stafford Motor Speedway Web site (www.staffordmotorspeedway.com). About 7,000 more votes came from ballots mailed by Stafford Motor Speedway to fans, owners and drivers.

Probably the most glaring omission was Mike Christopher of Plainville.

Christopher is a three-time Modified track champion at Stafford, with 19 career victories.

``Who cares,'' Christopher said. ``The way I look at it, they put drivers on that list that won one race at that place. I've won three championships and [19 races] there. They don't want to put me in, I don't care. It's obviously not [voted on] by my peers.''

Christopher was the only driver with three or more Modified championships not to make the list.

``I really admire what they did and you have to keep in mind that this was the people voting, but there were some very notable exceptions,'' former Stafford public relations director Pete Zanardi said. ``Are you asking me to take this seriously when a three-time champion is not there? It cheapens the whole thing.''

Christopher's twin brother Ted, who was on the list, is the winningest Modified driver at Stafford with 39 victories.

``I can't believe that,'' Ted Christopher said of Mike not making the list. ``He's won three championships. I figured if anybody wouldn't make the list, it would be me. They hate me over there.''

The actual rules of eligibility raise questions. The voting was on the ``50 Greatest Modified Drivers of All Time,'' not the 50 greatest Modified drivers at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Yet, to be eligible, a driver must have competed in at least one race at Stafford. Drivers did not have to be regulars at the track.

It can be argued the contest cannot accurately be called ``The 50 Greatest Modified Drivers of All Time'' if a driver who never competed at Stafford was ineligible.

The rules make drivers from the formative years of NASCAR such as Red Byron and Fonty Flock ineligible.

Two-time defending NASCAR Busch Grand National Series champion Randy LaJoie of Norwalk made the list, although he never was an overwhelmingly successful Modified driver. LaJoie was never a Modified champion and won four races over the two seasons he drove full time at Stafford. . . . The first leg of the Bud Triple Crown at Riverside Park Speedway, scheduled for May 9, has been rescheduled for June 23. Saturday is the No Bull 150 at Riverside. . . . Riverside and Stafford announcer Gary Danko hosts the Speedway Line Report Mondays live at 6 p.m. on WHYN-AM (560) and WPOP-AM (1410).